Arsenal are one of several teams keeping tabs on Youssoufa Moukoko's situation at Borussia Dortmund...

What's the word?

That's according to 90min, who claim that the Bundesliga outfit are struggling to tie the 18-year-old down to a new contract, meaning he is increasingly likely to leave in the summer.

It's thought that the teenage forward is after a deal worth €200k-per-week (£176k) but Dortmund have offered around half of that in what would be similar terms to summer signing Karem Adeyemi.

Moukoko's agents are also after a release clause - just as the club did with Erling Haaland - but the two parties aren't close on reaching a number.

As such, Chelsea and Newcastle United have held talks with his representatives, whilst the Gunners and arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, along with Liverpool and Manchester United, are all keeping a close eye on the situation, as per the report.

A big Nketiah upgrade

Whether this situation could open up a move before the January 31st deadline remains to be seen but in Moukoko, Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar could find a serious upgrade to Eddie Nketiah.

The Hale End graduate has been in fine form in 2023, scoring four goals in four starts since manager Mikel Arteta lost his key man Gabriel Jesus to a long-term injury but that shouldn't stop the club from adding further quality to the frontline.

The 23-year-old has bagged 30 goals across 115 appearances for his boyhood club, which isn't really a talismanic record, though to his credit, he has rarely started.

However, still in his teens, Moukoko has already been capped by Germany at senior level and has found the net 11 times in 59 outings. Similar to Nketiah, the 18-year-old has been an absolute goal-machine at youth level, having produced 127 goals and 26 assists in just 84 appearances in all competitions for BVB at youth level.

Compared to Samuel Eto'o by Bundesliga.com, the German sensation has also been lauded by the aforementioned Haaland, once a teammate of his.

"Moukoko's much better than I was at his age," he said. "I've never seen such a good 15-year-old in my life. The advantage for him is that he's already playing for Dortmund at the age of 15. At his age, I was still playing for my home town of Bryne."

Also dubbed a "massive talent" by journalist Richard Cusack, Moukoko has actually been likened to Arsenal's current frontman in terms of statistical profile by FBref, as well as ex-Gunners star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Dortmund wonderkid also ranks inside the top 6% for non-penalty expected goals and the top 7% for assists per 90, when compared to fellow strikers across Europe's leading five divisions, which is pretty good going for an 18-year-old. Nketiah, meanwhile, sits back in the top 17% and 79% for the same statistics.

As such, Edu could well find Arteta a real star of the future in Moukoko, seeing as he appears to be a far greater talent than his in-form bagsman, so whether it's now or in the summer, Arsenal should look to sign him at all costs.

AND in other news, Arsenal can bag bargain Mudryk alternative in £10m "phenomenon" who's "a Messi clone"...